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Correct Death Certificate

What You Will Need to Provide

Death certificates can be corrected under certain circumstances prescribed by the Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535) and 77 Ill. Adm. Code Part 500 (see LAWS & RULES to the right). Every request is unique.

Every person entitled to request a correction, must complete an Affidavit and Certificate of Correction Request (see FORMS in the right-hand column). Because each request is different, additional documentation will be required and may vary, according to the type of correction requested.

In order to request a correction to a death certificate you must complete the Affidavit and Certificate of Correction Request (see FORMS in the right-hand column)in its entirety and submit it along with the following information:

A valid government issued photo identification (ID) that must be readable and is not expired/out of date (if an ID is not provided, unreadable, or expired, the request will be returned unprocessed)

To learn more about valid IDs, see RESOURCES in the right-hand column and click on IDs

To learn more about the required costs/fees, see RESOURCES in the right-hand column and click on Costs/Fees

Types of Documents

The documents listed below are provided as general guidelines. In those cases when the documentation provided does not clearly support the change requested, you may need to obtain a court order (to learn more, see RESOURCES in the right-hand column).

Type of Correction Requested Suggested Documents
First Name Birth record
Middle Name Birth record
Last Name Birth record
Marriage record
Sex Birth record
Date of Death Medical records from place of death
Age

Birth record

Date of Birth

Birth record

Birthplace

Birth record

Marital/Civil Union Status and
Surviving Spouse

Marriage/civil union record/divorce/dissolution record

Surviving spouse's birth record

Marital/civil union proof such as: federal or state tax returns, bank statements, brokerage and loan accounts, insurance policies.  All proof of Marital/Civil Union Status must have existed within two years of the date of death.

Father/Co-parent's Name Birth record
Mother/Co-parent's Name Birth record
Informant's Name Informant's birth record
 

Informant's marriage/civil union record

Funeral Home

Notarized statement from both funeral homes

Cause of Death Certificate of Death Worksheet signed by certifying physician
Autopsy Certificate of Death Worksheet signed by certifying physician
Date/Time/Location of Injury Certificate of Death Worksheet signed by certifying physician
Manner of Death Certificate of Death Worksheet signed by certifying physician
Date Physician Last Attended Deceased Certificate of Death Worksheet signed by certifying physician
Time of Death Certificate of Death Worksheet signed by certifying physician

Resources

Forms

Laws & Rules